The Best Store-Bought Sheet Cake

A homemade cake is always something to behold, but nothing quite beats a grocery store sheet cake. From the charming design details to the classic rectangular shape, it delivers a dose of nostalgia that nothing else quite can.

So we gathered eager Southern Living editors to participate in a taste test to find out once and for all: Which grocery store bakery makes the best sheet cake?

How We Tested

For this taste test, we purchased white sheet cakes from the bakery section of six conventional grocery stores, supermarkets, and warehouse clubs. We removed the cakes from their packaging and cut them into small slices for editors to taste without identifying where each cake was from.

Testers ranked each cake on a scale of 1 to 5, with 1 being the lowest and 5 being the highest. After tasting each cake, each tester chose their overall favorite.

The Contenders

• Costco Bakery
• Publix Bakery
• Sam’s Club Bakery
• Target Bakery
• Walmart Bakery
• Whole Foods Bakery

How The Cakes Scored

Costco Bakery

Several editors appreciated the fluffiness and “bounce” of this cake. “Almond extract really comes through,” said one editor, and another appreciated its vanilla-y aroma. But editors noticed that this cake went beyond the classic grocery store flavors with a unique layer of filling in the center.

“Out of all the cakes we tasted, this is the most unique thanks to its custardy filling,” said one editor. “I respect that the icing and filling are actually different,” said another. Several editors commented that the icing tasted the most homemade yet nostalgic.

Publix Bakery

Most editors liked this sheet cake for the flavor, texture, and overall buttery flavor of its crumb. “The ‘cake’ part is fire,” said one editor. “The flavor is pleasant, but not too overwhelming.” Several editors used the word “homemade” to describe the flavor of the sponge cake itself, and multiple editors appreciated the ratio of icing to cake.

“I really like that there’s a thin layer of frosting in the middle,” one editor said. “It’s not too sweet, and the extra frosting keeps it from being too dry.”

Sam’s Club Bakery

Four editors called out the cake’s subtle spiced flavor, making it unique and even a little more festive-feeling. “Almost has a cinnamon-y taste,” said one editor. “There’s a cinnamon spice that would be great for the holidays,” said another. A number of editors were pleasantly surprised by the taste of the icing and its ratio in relation to the cake—not too sweet or overly whipped. “The icing is just the right amount of sweetness,” said one editor.

Target Bakery

This cake was the odd one out in many ways—it was only one layer, had a bit more of a yellow tint to it, and the icing was less like a buttercream and more like a petit fort glaze. But while all of this was true, many of our editors were surprised to discover that they preferred its taste—two editors even found it to be their favorite in the bunch. “I would actually eat a whole slice of this one,” said one editor. Another praised its moist crumb and buttery mouthfeel.

Walmart Bakery

Editors noticed that this cake had a slightly higher icing-to-cake ratio. “There’s a slight fruitiness to the icing,” one editor said, while others commented on the texture and flavor of the cake, which was noticeably light and fluffy. One editor felt the cake was similar to Angel Food cake, while two other editors compared the sweet, nutty aroma of the cake to cornbread.

Whole Foods Bakery

“This is the cake I would buy,” said one editor, and others wholeheartedly agreed. This cake had impressive floral designs, and beautiful pastel colors, and the buttercream itself was decadent and true-to-form. Four editors praised the cake for its icing-to-cake ratio, while one editor commented that this cake “felt the most real.” Several tasters noted that this cake had an authentic, buttery taste.

The Winner

Costco Bakery

Editors who participated in our taste test were surprised to discover how much grocery store bakery cakes truly varied—some had light and airy icing where others had rich buttercream, for example. But when it came to a a winner, Costco Bakery took the cake.

The Costco sheet cake had the “right density of cake and icing,” said one editor who appointed it their favorite. And other testers agreed: The cake as a whole was simultaneously unique, thanks to its creamy filling layer, and consistent as the sum of its parts. Each element worked together to create a perfect slice—and bite—of sweet (but not too sweet) cake.

There’s also the price element, which taste testers weren’t privy to: This cake is half the price but double the size of most other cakes (besides the Sam’s Club option). While most grocery store cakes are quarter-sheet cakes, Costco’s is a generous half-sheet cake, so it’s definitely meant to feed a crowd.